Galena Park to have Gateway Plaza

GALENA PARK – City Council met at their regular meeting last Tuesday, and voted to proceed with the Gateway Plaza project.

This will be a landmark in a new plaza next to City Hall, if current plans are finalized. Originally the monument was to be at an entry to the city, but a suitable site was not found, and the plaza concept was developed instead.

Council approved $25,000 for landscape design. The whole project is expected to cost about $125,000, and the Economic Alliance is funding $75,000 and the H-GAC (Houston Galveston Area Council) funding $25,000. Surrounding cities also have similar landmark monuments, according to City Manager Robert Pruett.

Council also approved the lease/purchase of a new fire engine, a pumper that will cost about $520,000. $218,000 of this will be provided by the Texas Forest Service, and the remainder will be paid by a note at about 2% for the city. The new engine is expected in a few months, Chief Gregory said.

PLAN OF GATEWAY PLAZA, in front of City Hall.

The city also approved the lease/purchase of a regenerative air street sweeper, to be used to clean Clinton Drive and other city streets. Pruett indicated some chargebacks to industries that generate the dust and debris will be possible. Some objection to this purchase was voiced at the meeting by a citizen, Barry Ponder, who thought it was not money well spent.

In other business, two new ordinances to control the spread of illicit designer drugs, and the regulation where registered sex offenders can reside, a required distance from schools, churches and playgrounds, was read for final action at the next council meeting.